Edward n



'(No Model.) .E. N. DIG-KERSON. Jr.

APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING THE MOVEMENT 0F TRAINS.

No. 267,681. Patented Nov. 21, 1882;

figure 2 Lana N. PETERS. PiIolo-Lilhngnphnr. wamin mn. ac,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD N. 'mcKEEsoN, JE, OF NEW YORK, N. -Y.

APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING THE MOVEMENT OF TRAINS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 267,681, dated November 2 1, 1882.

Application filed April 11, 1881.

.paratus for Con trollingthe MovementofTrains,

of which the following is a full, true, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention is applicable to railroadtrains in which there are two or more doors or gates for the passage. of the passengers from the train to the station, and is especially applicable to such trains as are used on the elevated railroads in the city ofNew York. In these trains, which may be composed of two, three, or more cars, it is very desirable that all the swinging gates should be closed before the train is started.

According to the system at present in use, the brakemen signal one to the other by pulling on the bell-rope to indicate that their gates are closed; but, as a matter offact, the system is very imperfect and accidents have frequently I resulted. By my invention the train cannot be started until all the gates are closed, because the opening of any gate automatically locks the bell-rope or signaling apparatus.

The train is started by the brakeman on the rear platform.

The general principle of my invention con.- sists, therefore,iu so connecting the gates with the mechanism for communicating from the rear to the front that the opening of any gate will prevent the starting of the train until every gate is firmly closed.

In my drawings, Figure 1 shows an end eleration of one form of my invention, and Fig. 2 a cross-section through the locking mechanism.

0 represents generally a car; A, a bell-rope; G, gates. Connected with the vertical uprights of these gates are cranks B, controlling links D, which operate locking mechanisms E.

(No model.)

In the form shown this mechanism is a concave bolt adapted to slide over the bell-rope and compress the same; but it will be obvious that a'great number of mechanisms for accomplishing this result can be easily contrived; also, the connectioii between the gate and the locking contrivance might be otherwise accomplished than by a crank; and the gate, instead of being hinged, could be a sliding gate, when the locking mechanism would be easily operated by cams; or, ifan electrical signaling apparatus should be used, the circuit would be broken by each gate on its opening. I

It is obvious that by this contrivance, provided the rearmost brakeman starts the train, he cannot do so until all the gates in front of him are closed.

By the term starting mechanism, as herein used, I include not only the usual devices for signaling the engine to start the train, but any other mechanism which will directly or indirectly effect a like result.

What I claim as my invention, and. desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination,in atrain, of the gates, and means, substantially as described, for con1- municating from rear to front, and appliances, substantially as set forth, which render said means inoperative whenever one gateisopeu.

2. The combination,in a train, of two gates located upon opposite sides of the car, means, substantially as described, for communicating from rear to front, and appliances, substantially as set forth", connected to both gates to render said means inoperative whenever either gate is open, as specified.

E. N. DIOKERSON, JR.

.Witnesses:

S. F. SULLIVAN WM. A, PoLLocK. 

